Interesting behavior with introduction of new clown

[wheelspin]

I just introduced a new b/w false perc into my reef tank yesterday. Before I had a pair of orange & white but I lost one a month or so ago to a powerhead.

 

Well I have been keeping him in breeding net for a few hours and then I will let him swim free for a while to see how they are bonding. The orange one has been giving him a pretty rough time but the b/w one has started the submission dance and I think they are starting to bond a bit.

 

This is where it starts getting interesting. Well the o/w one will still pick on the new little guy, some nudging and break out in a chase every once in a while. I have a lawnmower blenny in there that has always been pretty peaceful but I guess he just noticed the new clown today and started charging him and trying to nip him.

 

The interesting part is even though the o/w one is still picking on the new one when the blenny starts to charge the new one it will step in and escort the blenny away. The blenny instantly backs down. Now even when the blenny swims in the vicinity of the new clown the orange one will swim over between them and noticeably watch the blenny.

[Sdera63]

You have an orange and white, and a black and white f. Percula? Thats neat. I had too O/w's and one died of unknown causes. I was planning on buying another o/w but your idea sounds more interesting. Do you expect them to be a mated pair?

[wheelspin]

You have an orange and white, and a black and white f. Percula? Thats neat. I had too O/w's and one died of unknown causes. I was planning on buying another o/w but your idea sounds more interesting. Do you expect them to be a mated pair?

 

 

It's my understanding that the B/W is just a color variation and they are both Amphiprion Ocellaris.

 

I find it odd that nobody found this protective behavior as interesting as I did.